Issue 14
27 August 2008

1. Carlisle Against Racism AGM
2. New COWC supporters form
3. Other COWC news
4. Shop evening
5. Burma Appeal
6. Railway Station Dead birds petition

1. Carlisle Against Racism AGM

The Annual General Meeting of Carlisle Against Racism is to be held on Tuesday 2nd September in the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Community Room at Carlisle Fire Station, Warwick Street, Carlisle commencing at 6.00pm. (the venue has disabled access.)
The main items of business at the AGM will be the adoption of a constitution for the organisation and the election of officers as necessary.


2. New Supporter Form

The COWC Management Committee launched a new Supporters Form at our AGM in June.  If you have not already paid your subscription for the year please could you use this form to do so. You can now set up a Standing Order with your bank or building society. Your support is greatly appreciated and don't forget to tick the Gift Aid box if you are a UK taxpayer.


3. Other COWC news

COWC is now sharing the office and meeting space in 2 Lowthian's Lane with another charity, Self Injury Support (S.I.S.). Their main activities are counselling and raising awareness about self-harm in North Cumbria. This new arrangement will mean that COWC's rent and bills will be reduced to a more affordable level and that the centre will be open and occupied throughout the week. COWC will still only officially be open when it is manned on Wednesday, Friday and some Tuesday mornings. Do pop in to see the new layout when you're in town next.

5. Burma Appeal
The collection box for the CSI Myanmar charity working with Cyclone Nargis victims is still in the World Shop. Please do consider supporting them as the people there still have great needs. Further information about their work is on our latest newsletter (www.cowc.co.uk) or through their website www.csiinmyanmar.page.tl. If you have an idea for a fundraising event to support this group let us know.

6. Railway Station Dead birds petition

We were asked to promote this campaign two weeks ago.
Dead birds caught in net in the roof at Carlisle Station.
There is a net in the roof of Carlisle railway station, to supposedly stop birds messing on the platform. Birds find a way in but are unable to get out.This has been going on for well over a year (possibly 3). The station refuses to free trapped birds as it would disrupt the running of the station. Their policy is to wait until there are lots of carcasses and remove them all at once meaning that live birds are just left to suffer until they eventually die. This practice is now being rolled out in other stations nationally- don't let them get away with it. It's cruel and unneccesary. I was there on Wednesday and 3 birds were caught in net screeching to get free. No-one would do anything about it. They are now dead. More birds get caught every day with no hope of escape. There were 19 dead birds in the net this week alone.

Apart from the cruelty issues there is an environmental health risk posed by the rotting carcasses, and the problem of how we explain to our children that it is inappropriate to treat animals in such a way while turning a blind eye to the cruelty.
Please sign the petition so we can tell Network Rail and Virgin this is unacceptable.

http://www.petitiononline.com/birdtrap/petition.html

and please forward to friends and colleagues so we can spread the word

If you are on facebook, follow the link to our group “stop Carlisle Station killing birds”

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27612071943

Thanks for your support